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County Louth (formerly Dundalk Bay) local patch. (28 Viewers)
- Thread starter breffni
- Start date
About 20 plus Little Terns along the tide line at Baltray this afternoon, at least 2 were ringed. At least 5 one legged Oystercatchers hopping around on the beach.?? First time uploading photos here, hope it works. Excuse them as massively cropped.
Matt.
Matt.
Attachments
Thought I saw a couple of House Martins other day but I wasnt sure until this evening when I had loads of them flying above my garden. Well isnt it House Martins who do the real fluttery flight every now and then just and white underbelly obvious. My father says he hears the Cuckoo back again.....and saw it away down the field for the first time in his life. He said it was a large bird with a hooked beak and a bird he has never seen before and it was that busy calling it didnt notice him. In all the years he has heard it he has never ever been able to set eyes on it until the other morning early and he often tried to see it.
squidge
Wha Whassssat
I went for a walk with my six year old son and dog this morning in Townley Hall wood. Plenty of birds singing Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow warblers then something caught my ear. My initial reaction was it was a Chiffchaff singing wrong. On walking further along the pathway that is nearest the river I saw the bird about twenty feet up on a branch. It looked very like a Chiffchaff. I was looking at it from underneath. It had a yellowish vent and yellowish breast close to the wings. It had a very pale white belly and the bird looked very neat.
It started singing and every time I expected it to start "chiff chaffing" it broke out in what I can descibe as a "rat tat tat tat tatatata". It sang numerous times before jumping to another branch and feeding on a grub. It then flew down the slope towards the river but I lost sight. In total I observed for approx 15mins.
Not knowing what the bird was I was home within 20mins and checking out web were I looked for similar birds and the first one was Iberian chiffchaff. I played its song and it was unmistakeable that was it.
I've played numerous different recordings of the Iberian and I'm sure that is what I heard.
Sorry its only a one man Id (I dont think the six year old or dog would suffice). I still doubt myself but everytime I play a recording I know that is what I saw and heard. Ger.
It started singing and every time I expected it to start "chiff chaffing" it broke out in what I can descibe as a "rat tat tat tat tatatata". It sang numerous times before jumping to another branch and feeding on a grub. It then flew down the slope towards the river but I lost sight. In total I observed for approx 15mins.
Not knowing what the bird was I was home within 20mins and checking out web were I looked for similar birds and the first one was Iberian chiffchaff. I played its song and it was unmistakeable that was it.
I've played numerous different recordings of the Iberian and I'm sure that is what I heard.
Sorry its only a one man Id (I dont think the six year old or dog would suffice). I still doubt myself but everytime I play a recording I know that is what I saw and heard. Ger.
Monahawk
Well-known member
Nice one Squidge. Sounds very much like an Iberian Chiffchaff. My initial thoughts were Wood Warbler especially as you saw white on the belly and the bird was neat in appearance. Usually wood warblers end their trill song with a drawn out 'tiuoo, tiuoo, tiuoo', call. Definately worth seeking out again.
Si.
Si.
Peter Phillips
Well-known member
Sounds promising. I know a few people when looking this evening and I am not sure if they had any luck. I am going to give it a couple of hours, tomorrow late morning. If it sings I will try to make a recording.
squidge
Wha Whassssat
Was out there today from 12.10 to 2.15 and not a sign. I had a recording from the Dutch birding website as this is exactly what I heard. http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/up...100509.iberischetjiftjafzangELiebergSelXC.mp3 The doubting Thomas in me will always say well maybe but all I have to do is play the recording and I'm 100%. Its unfortunate I was the only observer but hopefully it will show itself again. Ger
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Hi Matt
The oycs, like other waders, tuck one leg up when loafing/roosting, mainly to conserve heat. Bare skin on leg and beak being the only bare parts, they try to keep them out of the cold. Nice shots - i see dunlin, ringed-plover and is that a knot?
Little Tern Conservation Project, Baltray
We are putting up the fence tomorrow Saturday 30th and it's all hands on deck. If anybody has a few spare hours, we would be delighted to see you out there. The main fencing work will start at 11am. You can contact 086 2434874 for directions.
We are putting up the fence tomorrow Saturday 30th and it's all hands on deck. If anybody has a few spare hours, we would be delighted to see you out there. The main fencing work will start at 11am. You can contact 086 2434874 for directions.
Peter Phillips
Well-known member
I got out this morning at 6am and found presumably the same Chiffchaff about 40 metres short of the bridge. I heard it sing just 4 times in 40 minutes and it seemed to be mobile going silent for several minutes at a time. First of all I would like to point out that I am not great with bird song, but I did some research last night.
http://www.surfbirds.com/Features/ibechiffs/ibechiffs.html
When I first heard the bird it gave two or three chiffchaff like notes and then a short rapid rattle. I did not manage to record the call but it sounded interesting. It lacked what you might call a 'bridging note' between the initial call and the rattle at the end and I think some birders who heard it the other day thought it did not sound quite right for Iberian Chiffchaff. I did not get any sort of view of the bird so I cant comment on its appearance.
I had some recordings on a portable dictaphone with me. When I played it just after hearing the Slane bird I could not detect much if any difference between the two however I did not manage to get a recording of the bird singing.
There seems to be some variation in Iberian Chiffchaff song so you would need to get a recording of the song to be sure. I think in the UK only birds that have been recorded singing/calling have been considered for acceptance by the BBRC.
Peter
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squidge
Wha Whassssat
Hi Peter I did hear a chiffchaff which seemed to miss a note yesterday, I wasnt able to locate it though . It did sound different to what I heard as the bird I heard had a little bouncy warble at the end of its song. As you said there are variations in song. I played the recording I had and it was Blackcaps that replied. I saw one Chiffchaff yesterday but underneath was duller to the pale plumage of the original bird.
Its unfortunate I was the only one and I usually carry a small camera while out birding but it was more of a dog walk so all I had were my compacts. I walk in townley and across the river along the canal quite regular so hopefully it will pop up again.
I would fully expect a recording,picture or at least two to three different views for a bird to be accepted so I'm not dissapointed in that sense. It was after I made the id of the bird through the sound recordings that I found out how rare this bird was so I was very apprehensive about posting it up. But because I was 100% sure I posted it up.
In the meantime I'll keep looking and listening and hopefully someone will come across it. Thanks, Ger.
Its unfortunate I was the only one and I usually carry a small camera while out birding but it was more of a dog walk so all I had were my compacts. I walk in townley and across the river along the canal quite regular so hopefully it will pop up again.
I would fully expect a recording,picture or at least two to three different views for a bird to be accepted so I'm not dissapointed in that sense. It was after I made the id of the bird through the sound recordings that I found out how rare this bird was so I was very apprehensive about posting it up. But because I was 100% sure I posted it up.
In the meantime I'll keep looking and listening and hopefully someone will come across it. Thanks, Ger.
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Peter Phillips
Well-known member
I see that some birders connected and got good views (and presumable heard it well?) today. Its on as a probable Iberian Chiffchaff, so you might be in luck if it get confirmed. I am not sure if any one has recorded the song, which would be very useful.
Tom Shevlin
Well-known member
Here's a recording of the Chiffchaff at Townley Hall Wood. Recorded with Canon 7D Camera yesterday evening (May 2nd).
Ger
What a great find (if it is iberian)but none the less a very brave call that most of us would have shyed away from making.so well done either way and i hope that it is confirmed
Enda
www.cooleywildlifephotography.com
What a great find (if it is iberian)but none the less a very brave call that most of us would have shyed away from making.so well done either way and i hope that it is confirmed
Enda
www.cooleywildlifephotography.com
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Derek Watters
Well-known member
Any further sightings of the whinchat? I see there was one reported from Killough in Co Down, so it may have headed north?
squidge
Wha Whassssat
Thanks Enda, I've been unable to get out the last few days so hopefully it will stick around. There were a few hours of indecision whether to post it up or not but with a bit of consultation and knowing what I saw and heard I just had to put it up.
Some excellent photographs by the way. Ger.
Still a few wheatears and white wagtails coming through Templetown beach yesterday + a single roseate tern at cooley point, overall tern numbers down visavis last year - a whinchat briefly there monday...
Fantastic photos indeed: www.cooleywildlifephotography.com
Fantastic photos indeed: www.cooleywildlifephotography.com
Derek Watters
Well-known member
Hi Enda
Just seen your new website.
Amazing photographs of animals that are hard enough to glimpse (red squirrel, jays, otters, etc), let alone photograph so well.
Best of luck with your tours!
Derek
Just seen your new website.
Amazing photographs of animals that are hard enough to glimpse (red squirrel, jays, otters, etc), let alone photograph so well.
Best of luck with your tours!
Derek
